Jiang Yisheng helped Ye Jiuliang find a vase, speaking in a gentle voice, "Jiuliang, did you buy flowers to coax your cousin?"

"Why would I need to coax him?" Ye Jiuliang didn’t immediately catch the implication in his words.

"Didn’t your cousin sleep in the study last night?" Jiang Yisheng said.

Ye Jiuliang picked up a pair of scissors to trim the roses, her hand trembling for a moment and nearly cutting the petals askew, "How do you know?"

"I just happened to see it this morning," he said.

Ye Jiuliang coughed lightly, "...I guess you could say that."

After arranging the flowers and taking them back to the bedroom, Ye Jiuliang changed into home clothes and came downstairs.

"Jiuliang, Grandma sent over a package, said it’s for you and your cousin," Jiang Yisheng walked in with a package, greeting Ye Jiuliang warmly as he saw her coming downstairs.

"A package?" Ye Jiuliang was confused, completely forgetting what the old lady had said on the phone last night.

She walked over and saw the package was quite large, probably around ten pounds or so.

Slitting the box open, a faint scent of medicinal herbs wafted out.

She suddenly had a bad feeling.

"What’s this?" Jiang Yisheng peeked over curiously.

Ji Mingqian dropped his game controller and picked up a note that had fallen out of the box.

It was a full page of densely written text.

It was a prescription.

When Ji Mingqian clearly saw what was written, he burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha."

On the other side, Jiang Yisheng also took out the contents of the box, all the precious herbs wrapped up tight.

"Ginseng, deer antler..." Jiang Yisheng looked bewildered, "Jiuliang, what is Grandma sending you and your cousin these for?"

"What else could it be? Obviously, she’s worried about their weak constitutions," Ji Mingqian laughed so hard he was in tears, "Jiang Yisheng, your grandma is quite talented. I really have to meet her sometime, she’s too funny."

Ridiculous.

If they were to finish all these herbs, the consequences would be...

It’s easy to imagine how eager the old lady was to have a great-grandchild.

"Ji Mingqian, get lost," Ye Jiuliang snatched back the prescription from his hands and threw a cushion straight at his head.

It was all because of the nonsense Li Mochan had spouted that the old lady had misunderstood.

Such an array of medicinal herbs would inevitably lead to misconceptions.

What was fatal was that the old lady had actually asked a doctor to write a prescription, complete with instructions on how to brew it.

Utterly ridiculous.

Jiang Yisheng, only realizing the meaning of Ji Mingqian’s words belatedly, could no longer look straight at the package.

His grandmother was truly... amazing.

"Ajiu, I think that prescription is written pretty well. You really ought to take it on time. Don’t let the old lady down, and try to let me be an uncle sooner," Ji Mingqian dodged another cushion thrown at him, his mouth still running and his smug expression making him very punchable.

Ye Jiuliang, after tossing the last cushion, said, "Ji Mingqian, you’re only getting bitter gourd for dinner tonight."

With that, she picked up the box of medicinal herbs and turned toward the kitchen.

Li Mochan was brewing soup, unaware of what was going on outside.

"What brought you in?" Li Mochan glanced over as Ye Jiuliang walked in and casually asked.

"Grandma Jiang sent it," Ye Jiuliang put the items on the table and handed him the prescription.

Li Mochan, puzzled, took the prescription to read for a moment, glanced at the medicinal herbs in the box, and a faint smile surfaced on his lips.

"And you can still smile?" Ye Jiuliang shook the deer antler slices in front of him, "Since you like them so much, shall I brew some for you tomorrow?"

Li Mochan folded the prescription neatly and tossed it back into the box.

He pulled her into his arms, his lips curving in an amused smile, "Do you think I need to drink this?"

"From the look on your face just now, I think you’re keen to try," Ye Jiuliang said calmly.

Li Mochan’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he leaned in close to her ear, "Why don’t we just put it to the test physically today and you can tell me tomorrow if I really need to drink this stuff." 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Put it to the test physically?

Surely that phrase doesn’t have any other meaning, right?

She wasn’t well-read, so don’t deceive her.

Ye Jiuliang stomped heavily on his foot, "Dream on."

Li Mochan chuckled, letting go without really trying as she pushed him away.

"Deal with these things yourself."

Li Mochan casually decided the fate of the items. "Aren’t those two outside recovering from injuries? Just give it to them."

Ye Jiuliang, "..."

If they drank these herbs, was it really going to be okay?

Outside in the living room, Jiang Yisheng and Ji Mingqian inexplicably felt a bit cold.

...

West Suburb, Qianhuang Clubhouse.

The dim lights in the private room created an atmosphere tinged with a bit of solemnity.

"Mr. Ye, we agreed on a fifty-fifty split for that batch of goods, but now you’re suddenly going back on your word and want a thirty-seventy split. This isn’t according to the rules, is it?"

The middle-aged man speaking was the leader of the Red Gang, Wang Ren, in a blue suit that still couldn’t conceal the hooliganism cultivated over years.

He took a drag on his cigarette, the smoke swirling around him, his grim face just visible through the haze.

"Mr. Ye, although it was a verbal agreement before, we have cooperated for so long. You suddenly pull this on me, offering a seventy-thirty split—do you expect my men to live on thin air?"

He had taken the goods, and now he was talking about a seventy-thirty split; clearly, he was being played.

After he finished speaking, there was a long pause before Ye Yan finally responded, his tone unhurried, "I am still considering the partners for that joint project in City S. If Boss Wang lacks sincerity, it’s hard to consider involving you."

If he didn’t agree, he could forget about getting a share of that project.

Wang Ren’s face darkened slightly, "Is Mr. Ye insisting on being so aggressive?"

Ye Yan lit a cigarette, drawing it slowly towards his lips, "What are you talking about, Boss Wang? Haven’t I given you a choice?"

"If that’s the case, we have nothing further to discuss." Wang Ren’s expression turned cold as he tossed the cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it harshly with the tip of his toe.

Ye Yan was undaunted, accustomed to such scenes, and he remained composed, "Are you considering the consequences of making a move, Boss Wang?"

"Mr. Ye, we all know the rules of the underworld. I’m also aware that the Ye Family is not something one person like me can provoke. At worst, I’ll put myself at a disadvantage to harm you more. Unfortunately, a few days ago, someone proposed a deal to me, asking me to choose between Mr. Ye and them. Initially, I had considered our many years of cooperation, but since Mr. Ye has made the choice for me, I, Wang, will not accompany you anymore." Standing up, Wang Ren said coldly, no longer bothering with even a hint of politeness.

"Let’s go."

Wang Ren barked an order, and his subordinates moved in unison.

Ye Yan gave a meaningful glance to the person next to him who nodded in understanding.

"Stop them."

The guard at the door stepped forward, blocking the path of Wang Ren and his men.

Instantly, the atmosphere grew tense with the smell of gunpowder.

Wang Ren turned his head to Ye Yan, his face as dark as ink, "What do you mean by this, Mr. Ye?"

Ye Yan offered a cold smile, about to speak when a wave of weakness washed over him, and he said in a steady voice, "Wang Ren, did you put something in the drink?"

Wang Ren was puzzled but didn’t hurry to deny it, maintaining his composure as he said, "Mr. Ye, I mean no offense. As long as you let me leave safely, we can live in peace."

Before his words finished, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the door.

The guard at the door was kicked in, and the impact affected Wang Ren’s men too, causing them to stagger backward.

Ye Yan stood up with unsteady footsteps, his gaze dark and intense as he looked to the door. In the dim light, a group of men in black burst in.

Wearing masks, their eyes were fixed on Ye Yan.

"Who are you?" Ye Yan demanded, his face stern as the effects of the drug intensified, the dizziness growing stronger.

The men in black were silent as their bloodstained daggers lashed out at Ye Yan.

Ye Yan’s face showed shock. Suddenly, someone pushed him to the side, dodging the blade of the man in black.

Wang Ren noticed that the men in black weren’t targeting him and quickly led his men to escape.

Ye Yan fell back on the sofa, and as he looked up, the figure in black lunged at him, the sharp dagger driving straight toward his heart.

"Dad."

A panicked shout rang out. Ye Rui ran from behind, mustering all his strength to shove the man in black and then lifted a tray to violently smash it against the man’s back.

The figure in black swung back, the sharp dagger slashing towards Ye Rui’s arm.

Ye Rui winced in pain, clutching his arm as blood flowed freely.

"Who dares to cause trouble in the clubhouse, take them all!" At that moment, an angry roar came from outside, and the men in black exchanged glances before retreating in unison.

Vanishing without a trace, swift as specters.

If not for the chaos strewn across the room, no one would have known a fierce battle had just taken place.

"Mr. Ye, are you alright?" The bodyguard rushed over, helping Ye Yan to his feet and asked with concern.

Ye Yan got up, his face dark, "Immediately send people to check into it, and capture Wang Ren."

He would not let go of anyone who dared to cross him.

"Yes."

Ye Yan glanced sideways at Ye Rui as he stood up, his gaze scrutinizing.

"Why are you here?"

His primary interest was not in his son’s injuries but why he was present; he feared his son might be in cahoots with the assailants.

Ye Rui sneered inwardly, his head lowered, his voice slightly hoarse as he answered, "I work here as a waiter."

"A waiter?" Ye Yan pinched the bridge of his nose before finally taking in his son’s attire.

It was indeed the uniform of the club’s servers.

"Dad, are you okay?" Ye Rui asked softly.

Ye Yan frowned and called to a subordinate, "Get the car ready to go back, and summon Doctor Li."

"Yes." The man nodded and quickly left the room.

Ye Yan, leaning on the wall for support, stood up as his subordinates hurried to assist him.

"Why are you standing there? Still want to play waiter?" Ye Yan turned to see Ye Rui standing still and spoke with a chill in his voice.

Ye Rui, with his head bowed, followed with small steps.

Rather than returning to the Ye Family, Ye Rui followed Ye Yan to a residence in his name.

After his wounds were treated, Ye Rui was led to the study.

Standing in front of the desk, Ye Rui looked at the man with his back turned to him, his heart roiling with hatred.

When Ye Yan turned to face him, Ye Rui’s expression was once again blank.

Ye Yan’s gaze was sharp as he began in a mild voice, "How long have you been working part-time at that clubhouse?"